Writing Plan: Write a Synopsis Before & While Completing a Story

What is a Synopsis?

A synopsis is a narrative summary of your entire story. In other words, this type of summary is simply a condensed version of the story. It provides details like the major plot and even snippets of dialogue. Furthermore, it is written to truly characterize its larger completed version with the same style and sequence as the full version. After reading a synopsis, readers should feel that they have read the entire book and understand the theme.


Types of Synopsis

Synopses differ in length.

  • Extremely Short Synopsis: An extremely short synopsis typically has only 1 line. These are called 'loglines'. However, an extremely short synopsis might have a maximum of 2 lines.
  • Short Synopsis: When writers speak of a 'short synopsis', they generally mean 2-page synopses.
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  • Long Synopsis: As a rule of thumb, a 'longer synopsis' contains 1 page per 35 pages of its full version of the story.


The different types of synopsis are like increasing levels of detail seen as the number of pixels increases for a single photograph.

What is the Purpose of the Synopsis Before Writing the Story (Outline)?

A synopsis can serve several purposes. When determining their interest in investing time in your book, publishers and many other parties (like agents and editors) prefer a synopsis over the completed book. However, although a synopsis is usually requested by publishers after a book has been completed, I consider it very useful in the planning stage of a writing project.

Before even starting to write the story or even the story outline, write an extremely short synopsis with all 5 of the classic story elements. This is a test of focus and clarity. If you have trouble with this exercise, it is possible that the focus of your story is too broad or unclear. This synopsis is the concise answer to the question, 'What is your book about?'

Having a synopsis even before you begin to write can guide your writing process.

Synopses can also be used to get feedback on new book ideas before you commit to writing them. For instance, you can send a 2-page pre-book synopsis for this purpose to a few trusted friends or an agent with whom you already have a relationship.

A synopsis is not written in stone. Since it will remain with you for the duration of the writing project, consider it a work in progress that can be tweaked if you must make major changes. Although your creativity carries the book in a different direction, it is always easier to at least have a starting framework. It will also be easier to re-write the synopsis from that initial plan, ie as opposed to writing from scratch. Essentially, it presents an opportunity to continually perfect the publisher and agent version before the book is completed. This is particularly useful since it is usually easier to write a synopsis beforehand because your mind is not yet crowded with all of the many story details.


How to Write a Synopsis
1. All types of synopsis should include the following 5 essential elements of a good story in any order that makes the story flow naturally. These elements should always exist for even a 1-line pre-writing synopsis.

(i) A protagonist(s) face(s) some major challenge, ie
(ii) conflict (that arose from an inciting event) caused by an
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(iii) antagonist. If the antagonist succeeds, the protagonist(s) can not reach his / their major
(iv) goal and will suffer some grave loss, ie 
(v) consequence (and or a realistic resolution for longer versions)


2. Always consider the following, especially after 'graduating' from the very short version to a longer one.
  • Develop sympathetic characters, especially for the protagonist(s) and even for the antagonist. When writing a synopsis, include minor characters ONLY if their exclusion will render the synopsis meaningless. In other words, cater to the short term memory of readers who do not need extraneous details. This may mean speaking of 'a participant' rather than 'Jim Baker Jr who lived at 21 Baxter Road, next to Kathy, the kitchen gardener'.
  • Avoid cliffhangers or teasers. In fact, include the ending / resolution, especially when writing a longer synopsis. Publishers and agents are keen to see whether you are capable of creating a plausible ending. 
  • Give the major plot. Exclude sub-plots. In fact, you may even exclude other major plots if the synopsis could serve its purpose. As much as possible, let the synopsis extend evenly over the entire story.
  • Be concise. Sometimes, it may be better to summarize the plot if the various details do not add value to the synopsis. For instance, rather than list all of a character's dangerous adventures, a, b, c and d, summarize by simply saying that the character had several dangerous adventures. If you are struggling to choose among many major events (because you have already written your story), extract the most critical events from a beat sheet.
  • Highlight names of characters when introducing them to the synopsis. For instance, some writers type characters' names in bold when they mention them for the first time.
3. Follow these general rules.
  • Start with a hook
  • Write a synopsis in the third person
  • Write a synopsis in the present tense
  • Use the same writing style that appears in the final version of the book. For instance, if your book has a serious tone, uses dialect and so on, so too should your synopsis.
  • Unless your synopsis is one page or shorter, double space your lines.
  • Allow the ideas to flow
  • Use the standard synopsis header. In the top right corner of each page, include the page number. In the top left corner of each page, include the following details (author / TITLE / Synopsis) as illustrated below.
 Example: Dickens / GREAT EXPECTATIONS / Synopsis 

4. Review examples of synopses:
  • Devils' Trumpet by Mary Rosenblum (4-page synopsis that highlights the aim of each part of the synopsis)
  • Submit link to a good synopsis via contact form  

5. Pre-test your synopsis. Find a few friends who can give you can rate you frankly and even give suggestions for improving your synopsis on the following points.
  • Clarity (regarding the conflict, genre, inciting event, etc)
  • Logical flow
  • Focus
  • Themes
  • Overall feeling about the story




    What Next?

    After writing the synopsis, tackle the following step of the writing plan.
    However, if you are in the initial planning stage of your writing project, consider the following steps before completing the synopsis.



    CJ
    Once Upon a Writing Block

    PS

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